I’m thinking a lot about today and how very important it is.
Well, today, the 19th of June, Juneteenth, is a very special day in the lives of former black slaves in Texas and the southern states in 1865, as you will see on Wikipedia.
But as a tribute to and celebration of this very important day, mama wanted to you to hear one of the songs that is often sung on this holiday, throughout Texas and the south. And another version by B. B. King. But this one made mama cry, so beautiful. The Black National Anthem.
Thank you, Mr. Lincoln. But no thanks to those who felt that their fellow men and women, their fellow human beings should be enslaved, abused, and treated worse than animals. I’m certain that slave owners were just as cruel if not moreso to their animals and probably to their families.
I wish I could sing. I would join in on the songs of freedom. Maybe just a few notes?
No, Loulou it’s okay. But thanks for wanting to!
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Hope all you daddies out there had a bang-up Daddie’s Day, Papa’s Day, whatever you call it…
My papa was away but I’m going to make it up to him soon. Or maybe it’s the other way around, haha.
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And this, just for feeling good about penguins and people and kindness!
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I have no love of boxes, but now you’re talkin’!!!
Wow, that is one cool box! We would love to have it.
It’s on free images of cardboard boxes so maybe you could find the seller.
Are they home ? Are they home ?
YES, YES, they are home and I brought them a little dead bird for a hello!!!!
Thank you so much for this post. I will look up the Juneteenth story on Wikipedia. In the meantime, I have listened to Johnny Cash’s Swing Low. Un régal, cette voix.
Oh, I am so glad you liked the blog. It’s such an important day for so many black Americans.
MERCI, Loulou – for the enlightenment and the memories!! Mama’s Uncle Howard (who lived in the country – the one who had the donkey, Irving) would always have a Juneteenth Party – BBQ, watermelon and homemade peach ice cream – OMG!! She had no idea what for – except for great food and fun outside – and june bugs, with their pretty iridescent colors! He was always full of fun and she thought he just made up the name to have a good reason to party. There was a much deeper and important meaning – and she’s just finding out!! WELL, voila. A REAL and IMPORTANT reason to celebrate!!! And you must be singing – belting out – I know – R-E-S-P-E-C-T – by Aretha!!!
Aretha and I do do a couple of duets every now and then. And yes, it’s a great day for so many black Americans and our friend in Texas used to have the same menu as your Uncle Howard!!! Sound good for today, too.
You have a lovely voice. That is a cool box to celebrate box day.
Yes, I love that box and mama is looking for one, I think.
Now that’s a box! You should give your papa one when he gets home. He’ll love it. And maybe he’ll share it with you.
Er…I’m not sure my papa would fit in that box, but maybe he would BUILD one for ME, haha. They are home and I am a bit aloof….but I give in after a few minutes and squiggle and purr a lot.
Oh LouLou – what a beautiful rendition of that old Spiritual ! And the penguin – just another reminder of the Henry Beston quote (from “The Outermost House.”):
We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals. Remote from universal nature, and living by complicated artifice, man in civilization surveys the creature through the glass of his knowledge and sees thereby a feather magnified and the whole image in distortion. We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth.
OH, MARY, mama is in tears. That is the most beautiful description of what we must all remember to be with one another. Thank you so, so much for sharing this with readers. We love your quotes and comments.